Parkway Tree-Emerald Ash Borer Treatments

Emerald Ash Borer
The emerald ash borer is a half-inch long metallic green beetle with the scientific name Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire. Larvae of this beetle feed under the bark of ash trees. Their feeding eventually girdles and kills branches and entire trees. Emerald ash borer was first identified in North America in southeastern Michigan in 2002. In the years since that discovery, the beetle has spread into Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ontario and Quebec.

Emerald ash borer feeds exclusively on ash trees in North America. Host species include green ash, white ash, black ash, blue ash, and pumpkin ash. Tens of millions of ash trees have been lost to this pest, which usually kills ash trees within 3-4 years of infestation.

Tree Treatments
In 2012, the Village of Romeoville began assessing and treating the parkway trees in various areas with trunk injections of "Tree-Age" by a contractor. The Village has made a significant investment in the health of these trees. Any parkway tree that has been treated by the contractor has been marked with an identifying tag number on the trunk of the tree (some trees may have multiple tags if they have been treated multiple years). The Village will be treating the parkway trees every two years, as necessary.

Prior to the application of additional treatments, the contractor has assessed the condition of the treated trees to determine the success level.

Private Property
The Village of Romeoville recognizes that many residents may have Ash trees on their private property. The Village does not treat nor remove trees on private property. If the owner suspects that their Ash tree might be infested with EAB, they are asked to contact an arborist. Property owners are able and welcome to treat their private Ash trees. Owners wishing to treat their private trees should contact a certified arborist to discuss treatment options.